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Christmas business for Beaver Falls merchants practically began on Saturday, December 19, 1903, when the Christmas pay of the wage earners of the valley was being put into circulation and the indications were that the holiday business would exceed the anticipations of the merchants. Owing to the fact that several of the manufacturing establishments in this place; had not been in operation for sometime it was feared that the business would fall away below that of previous years. It was possible that due to the fact that some of the mills were idle that a number of the local merchants failed to display the enthusiasm in holiday decorations seen on former occasions, as there were but a few of the display windows on 7th Avenue, which had the holiday appearance usually displayed at this season of the year. The decorator at Mr. Benson's dry goods store has secured a very attractive effect in rose color and white in the arches constructed in the two large display windows of his store (Now, Eat & Park) which with electrical effects and display of seasonable goods, attracted considerable attention. Paff Brothers had quite an elaborate display, which was very attractive. Large arches of white and green formed the background for their display windows and handsomely gowned figures completed the picture. In one of the windows a decidedly spectacular effect had been secured by suspending a bust figure in a wreath from which handsome umbrellas radiated in a circle. James Perrott had made considerable effort at decorating and secured a good effect in the window of the dry goods store. Kirk and Clark and a number of other dealers in dry goods, holiday goods and novelties contented themselves with presenting attractive displays of the lines they carried. In their unique way their display of dolls, toys, and fancy articles attracted many buyers to their stores. The display of the jewelers - J.D. McAnlis, E.H. Schaffer, Ab. Hantman and J.P. Johnston were especially fine and were worthy of inspection. Martsolf Brothers furniture dealer, arranged their furniture for an amusement room, with billiard table occupying the center. In another window, chinaware of all kinds was pouring from a huge cornicopia. The Ewing furniture company and furniture dealers had arranged nice displays suitable for the holidays but they have done little toward holiday decorating. The latest styles in men's garments and furnishing goods enabled Butler & Jackson, B. Berkman, Miller and Scott and other dealers in the line to present a very attractive display. Reeder's Bookstore and shoe dealers had attractive windows but few made any attempt at spectacular displays. As a whole the merchants seemed to enjoy a profitable business and the displays they had would compare with those in much larger cities.
Researched and gleaned from Old News Tribune
Newspapers
by Vivian McLaughlin
Research Center for Beaver County History